A Template-based Model for Developing Parallel Applications on a Network Cluster | Data Structures and Algorithms with Object-Oriented Design Patterns in C++

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Dhrubajyoti Goswami, Ajit Singh, and Bruno Richard Preiss. manuscript 20 pp., October 1998[4].

Parallel programming is complicated. This complexity arises from the compounding of low-level parallelism related issues with the problems of writing good sequential code. Over the years , various approaches have been proposed to aid parallel program developers. These approaches employ high-level models of parallel computation, thus hiding the low-level parallelism- related details from the user . Different approaches employ different abstraction techniques, such as communication libraries, macros, new parallel languages and abstract data types.
In this paper, we present a template-based approach to parallel application development, which uses frequently occurring patterns for parallelism. A parallel template is a re-usable, application-independent encapsulation of a commonly used parallel computing pattern. It is implemented as a re-usable code-skeleton for quick and reliable development of parallel applications. In the past, parallel programming systems have allowed fast prototyping of parallel applications based on commonly occurring communication and synchronization structures. The uniqueness of this approach is that the templates in this model are generic, with associated structural and behavioral attributes which can be parameterized. Templates have standard interfaces which facilitate their composition.

Unlike the similar approaches in the past, which were mostly suitable for solving a limited subset of parallel applications, this approach provides a systematic development model for the hierarchical development and the subsequent refinements of a vast majority of coarse-grained parallel applications, which can be suitably solved on a network cluster. Two of the main issues addressed are: degree of flexibility in application development and extendibility (hence adaptability) of the development system as per user's need. Both of these issues were some of the major concerns in the past.

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